ret

A JEOL JSM-6100 SEM at a voltage of 10 kV was utilized to observe the fiber surface and also fiber bundle cross-section to characterize the retting degree.

It may be due to the fact that fungal activity of dew-retting is a natural process which could not be well controlled and happen uniformly on the stems during retting process (10), (11).

This confirms again the enzyme retting process is promising in regards of its potential utilization for natural fibers as composite reinforcement.

This roughness was related to the cuticles attached on F1 fiber bundle surface, which proved the retting degree of F1 was low.

The aspect ratio, retting degree, tensile strength, transcrystalline, and interface behavior of dew- and enzyme-retted fibers were characterized contrastively for their promising application in composites as reinforcing material.